The Green Knight (2021)

Imagine a man who sets out on a dangerous journey to prove his bravery to his family and society. That’s what this movie is about. So, let’s jump into today’s movie recap.

The movie begins with a man named Gawain. His girlfriend, Essel, wakes him up early in the morning by throwing water on him. He quickly gets dressed and prepares to leave the house. Before leaving, he jokes with his girlfriend Essel, who just laughs in response.

When Gawain reaches home, he tells his mother that he spent the whole night at the church. But his mother smells alcohol on his breath and realizes that he is lying. Then Gawain notices that it is Christmas, but his mother is not ready for the Esselebration. She is not interested in attending the Christmas feast, so she tells him to go alone.

Meanwhile, Gawain’s mother secretly goes to a hidden place where several women are waiting for her. At the same time, in a grand palace, King and Queen welcome the guests. Gawain arrives at the palace and tells the king and queen that his mother is unwell, so she couldn’t come. The king, who is Gawain’s uncle, asks him to sit beside him.

During the feast, King welcomes all the guests. Meanwhile, Gawain’s mother prepares a ritual and places a green sash on a bed. As soon as she completes the ritual, a mysterious force is released, and suddenly, a plant starts growing from the fire.

At the palace, the Green Knight arrives. He gives the queen a letter, and as soon as she reads it, she starts speaking in a deep, eerie voice as if someone has possessed her. The letter contains a challenge from the Green Knight: any warrior in the king’s court must face him in battle. If the warrior wins, he will gain wealth and fame. But there is a condition—whatever injury the warrior inflicts on the Green Knight, the same injury will be returned to him exactly one year later.

No warrior dares to accept the challenge, so Gawain steps forward. Pleased with his courage, King gives him his sword. Gawain enters the battlefield, but the Green Knight does not attack. Instead, he places his axe on the ground, bows his head before Gawain, and waits.

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Gawain, showing great courage, swings his sword and chops off the Green Knight’s head in one strike. To everyone’s shock, the Green Knight picks up his severed head, smiles, and says, “We will meet again in one year.” Then he leaves. The entire court praises Gawain’s bravery.

A year passes. Gawain enjoys life, spending his days in fun and pleasure. Essel playfully teases him about his fame. One day, when Gawain returns home, he sees his mother talking to King. The king asks him what he has planned for Christmas. Gawain has forgotten about his encounter with the Green Knight, thinking it was just a game. But the king reminds him that the challenge is not over. He tells Gawain that a true warrior must honor his word and go to the Green Knight.

Before he leaves, a group of women performs a ritual and gives him a magical green sash for protection. Essel tries to stop him, but Gawain refuses to break his promise. Then, he sets off on his journey to fulfill his destiny.

His mother gives him the green sash and tells him that as long as he has it, no one can harm him. After that, Gawain sets off on his journey alone.

At night, he lights a fire and notices a small bell from Essel’s anklet near him. He remembers that Essel once talked about marriage, but he never gave an answer, breaking her heart.

The next day, Gawain keeps walking and reaches a battlefield where many dead bodies are scattered. He sees a man who is burying the bodies alone. The man asks Gawain about his green axe, the one he got from the Green Knight. Gawain tells him that he is traveling to meet the Green Knight at the Green Chapel. The man shows him the way but asks for some money in return. Gawain gives him a silver coin, and leaves.

After some time, Gawain reaches a river and stops to let his horse drink water. Suddenly, two thieves appear and capture him. Another man arrives and says that bringing Gawain there was part of his plan. The man steals Gawain’s green sash and ties him up. Then, he covers Gawain’s face and leaves with his horse and axe.

After a long time, all that is left in Gawain’s place is a skeleton—but this is just an illusion. As he regains strength, he struggles and manages to cut the rope with a sword, freeing himself. He then starts looking for his path through the forest.

At night, he gets lost and sees an abandoned house with strange noises coming from inside. When he enters, he finds no one there. He sees an empty bed and sleep on it. Suddenly, a woman appears and asks why he is sleeping in her bed. Gawain apologizes and says he is lost. The woman floats toward him, and he realizes she is a ghost.

She tells him her name and leads him to a pond. She asks him to find her head in the water. The ghost explains that a rich man tried to force himself on her, and when she resisted, he cut off her head.

Gawain jumps into the pond to find her head. The water suddenly turns red, and he sees a skull at the bottom. When he brings the skull to the surface, he no longer sees the ghost. Instead, a fox is waiting for him.

Gawain takes the skull back inside the house and sees the woman’s skeleton lying on the bed. When he looks at the skull, it transforms into the woman’s real head. Shocked, he drops it, and it turns back into a skull. He then picks it up and places it beside the skeleton.

As sunlight enters the room, Gawain notices the Green Knight’s axe nearby. He takes it and continues his journey.

At night, he stops in a cave and lights a fire. He realizes that the fox has been following him all this time, so he lets it enter the cave. The next morning, they continue their journey together.

Later, Gawain feels very hungry and eats some wild mushrooms, giving some to the fox as well. Soon after, he starts feeling sick and vomits. Despite this, he keeps moving forward with the fox by his side.

After some time, Gawain sees terrifying shadows on the hilltop. He calls out to them, and one shadow tries to lift him. But just then, the fox growls, scaring the shadow away. Gawain moves in the opposite direction.

That night, heavy rain starts, and Gawain, weak from hunger, collapses. The fox nudges him and gives him the strength to keep moving. Eventually, Gawain stumbles upon a castle and faints at its doorstep.

The next morning, he wakes up and sees a king standing infront of him. Strangely, the king already knows who Gawain is. He tells Gawain that he still has a few days left before reaching the Green Chapel. Then, Gawain meets the queen, who looks exactly like his lover, Essel.

The king invites Gawain to stay at the castle and rest for a few days. Gawain agrees. The queen shows him several books, but she also starts getting closer to him little by little.

One night, while chatting casually, the king asks Gawain what he truly desires. Gawain replies that he only wants to become a true warrior.

The next morning, Gawain wakes up to find the queen staring at him. She moves closer and asks if he believes in magic. Then, she shows him a sash just like the one his mother gave him. She tells him that as long as he wears it, he will be safe.

Eventually, they get closer. But soon after, he panics, grabs his axe, and quickly runs away from the castle before the king finds out what happened.

As he runs through the forest, the king suddenly appears in front of him. Gawain, afraid, expects punishment, but instead, the king just smiles and sends his fox back to him.

Gawain and the fox continue their journey and reach a foggy landscape. As he moves toward the river, the fox suddenly blocks his path. Then, to Gawain’s shock, the fox speaks. It warns him that if he continues, he will not survive. The fox begs him to turn back, but Gawain refuses. Frustrated, he swings his axe, scaring the fox away.

Now completely alone, Gawain boards a small boat and sails toward the Green Chapel. Inside, he finds the Green Knight sleeping. Gawain places his axe on the ground and sits there, waiting. He stays awake the entire night.

Finally, on Christmas morning, the Green Knight wakes up. He picks up his axe and asks Gawain if he has come to fulfill the challenge. Trembling with fear, Gawain nods.

The Green Knight tells him to kneel so that he can strike him the same way Gawain struck him a year ago. Gawain kneels, but when the Green Knight raises his axe, Gawain flinches and moves back in fear.

He gathers his courage and tells the Green Knight to strike again, but he flinches a second time. Feeling overwhelmed, he asks if there is any other way. The Green Knight replies that he can only give Gawain the same strike that was given to him.

As the Green Knight lifts his axe for the third time, Gawain suddenly panics and runs away. While escaping, he begs for forgiveness. When he reaches outside, he sees his horse waiting for him. He quickly mounts it and rides back home.

When he arrives, his mother tends to his wounds. He still keeps the green sash tied around him. Then, he visits Essel and spends some time with her.

A few days later, King falls ill,

The Green makes Gawain the next king and then passes away. Soon after Gawain becomes king, Essel gives birth to his son. But instead of staying with her, Gawain takes the baby and leaves some coins for Essel. Heartbroken, Essel watches as he takes their son away.

A few years later, Gawain marries a rich woman. One night, when his new queen tries to remove his green sash, he stops her.

Years pass, and Gawain’s kingdom is attacked by enemies. During the battle, his son is killed. When Gawain returns to his kingdom, the people throw stones at him in anger. Essel stands among the crowd, staring at him with resentment.

A few years later, his new queen gives birth to a daughter, but the war continues. As things worsen, his wife leaves him, taking their daughter with her. Even Gawain’s mother abandons him.

Finally, when the enemy reaches his palace, Gawain removes the green sash. In that moment, his head falls from his body.

Suddenly, Gawain blinks and finds himself back in front of the Green Knight. He realizes that everything he just saw was only a vision of his future.

As the Green Knight lifts his axe, Gawain stops him. He finally understands that living in fear is meaningless. He removes his green sash and tells the Green Knight to strike him.

Seeing this, the Green Knight smiles and says that Gawain has truly become a brave warrior.

By this, the movie ends here. If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to my channel and don’t forget to like the video.

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